By Sania Babirye
Anti corruption court chief magistrate Agnes Alum has granted a five million cash bail to state Minister for Labour , Employment and Industrial relations Herbert Kabanfunzaki.
The state minister has also been ordered to deposit his passport and two land titles that he owns with his wife in court until the case is dispossed.
The chief magistrate ruled that the minister had no criminal charges pending against him and that his surities were substantial.
The state had asked court to deny Hon.Kabafunzaki bail on grounds that he is likely to abscond once released and due to his status as an MP and state minister he might use it to interfere with witnesses.
However the magistrate dismissed their application saying court can not deny him bail on mere speculation.
Kabafunzaki was charged on Tuesday with his political aid Brain Mugabo who pleaded guilty to have hid the 5 million the minister received from Mohammed Hamid and an interior designer Bruce Lubowa who also pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiring to solicit a 15 million shillings Bribe.
Prosecution states that between the 6th and the 8th April 20217 at Serena Hotel in Kampala district, Kabafunzaki directly solicited and accepted a 5 million shillings Bribe from an Indian Investor Muhammed Muhammed Hamid, the chairman Aya group of companies as an inducument to clear him of sexual harrasment allegations levied against him by his former employee.
Mugabo was separately charged with being an accessory after being convicted on his own plea for a linear punishment.